Calendar
Friday, Starting at 4 p.m. – TMS Member Shopping
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. – Public Shopping
All ages; no registration required.
Celebrate Earth Day with Mercer Botanic Gardens! April is the best month for planting and celebrating Mercer Botanic Garden planet! Pick out a new tree to fill out your yard or add some flowering shrubs like Hibiscus! Choose from a variety of choice plants including trees, flowering shade and sun perennials, shrubs, herbs, and more to fill out your garden beds!
Shop this online-only sale at https://themercersociety.square.site/ All orders are pickup only; plants cannot be shipped. Plant pickup is off-site at The Mercer Society’s Horticultural Propagation Center, located approximately one mile from Mercer at 3602 Hirschfield Road in Spring, TX. For more information, call The Mercer Society at 713-274-4166.
To become a TMS member, or to renew your membership, visit https://themercersociety.org/get-involved/membership/ today!
Trail maintenance, volunteer work crew, and garden group.
For information on volunteer opportunities at Kleb Woods, contact Megan Ahlgren
VMS CODE: RM: Kleb Woods
It’s time to volunteer again! You know you want to, but you know there are rules, right? So here they are:
- Only a certain number of people will be allowed in each garden area. Be prepared to grow where you’re planted (work where you’re most needed)!
- You must supply your own gloves and tools.
- Park at the education building, not in front of the office.
- If you are more comfortable wearing a face mask, you are more than welcome to.
- Limits on the number of people should allow for 6 feet social distancing. Be mindful of the distance.
- As always, bring adequate sun protection and water.
- If you have been exposed to COVID-19, please quarantine for 14 days before joining Texas Master Naturalists – Heartwood Chapter at the Forest.
Volunteer slots begin at 9 am and end at noon. Contact heartwoodvsp@gmail.com for the latest plans.
VMS: RM: WG Jones State Forest (Specify garden or nursery maintenance)
In 1996, a cross-section of stakeholders came together in Pittsburgh for the very first federally co-sponsored National Brownfields Training Conference. Now join National Brownfields Conference as we celebrate the 19th event from September 27th–30th, 2021, in Oklahoma City, OK at the Oklahoma City Convention Center!
Cosponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Brownfields Training Conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing formerly utilized commercial and industrial properties. Mark your calendars for three days of training, networking, and business development!
Impact Hub houston envisions a more prosperous, inclusive, climate-resilient economy, where finance flows to green projects and activities, and where motivated people are empowered with the skills and capacity they need to take action.
This progress can only be achieved through systemic change – change that includes innovation across business, investment, regulation, governance structures, values and mindsets. They invite you to join Climathon Houston to see the most promising ideas that emerge around Houston’s challenges, including:
Energy Transition: developing innovative ways to …
- Shift from extractive to regenerative energy production, capture and distribution technologies.
- Restore, protect, and enhance Houston’s natural ability to capture and store carbon.
Materials Management: developing innovative ways to …
- Reduce waste production and/or Optimize waste operations.
- Reuse or Upcycle materials into useful products, to lengthen their lifespan and keep materials out of streets and landfills.
- Recycle materials into efficient energy or new raw materials for manufacturing and production.
Building Optimization: developing innovative ways to …
- Reduce building energy use and maximize savings.
- Increase the healthfulness and utility of existing buildings for sustainable community use.
Regional Resilience: developing innovative ways to …
- Address clean water, access, retention and flooding issues
- Engage more people in building better habits that promote cleaner, greener communities
- Accelerate clean urban mobility
Chaired by Scott and Judy Nyquist, the citizens of Houston will attend an event hosted by the Rice Design Alliance to honor Rice Architecture for bringing people together for the past 50 years. The Rice Design Alliance enhances the Houston urban community by working on local design issues, which keeps the working world in our city functional. The event’s proceeds will go to the Rice Design Alliance’s educational mission.
Parks and Natural Areas Awards
H-GAC established the Parks and Natural Areas awards program in 2006 to highlight best practices and innovative approaches to parks planning and implementation. H-GAC honors projects in the categories of Projects Over $500,000, Projects Under $500,000, Planning Process and Policy Tools, and Programming.
This program recognizes outstanding parks and natural areas around the region. No funding is associated with this award program.
Join other Christians to celebrate Earth Day by participating in a streamed pre-recorded creation-focused worship service. Listen to the wisdom, song, and stories from our fellow Creatures, human and non-human. The Rev. Dr. Carmelo Santos will share the message of the day. This 45-minute worship service is in English with full Spanish translation, and does not include communion. Observe Earth Day by praising the Creator and giving thanks for God’s good creation in worship on April 22! Register to participate at www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/creation-focused-worship-for-earth-day-tickets-301138712997?aff=ebdssbdestsearch. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.
Conservation Grants
Conservation Grants can be awarded to projects anywhere in Texas. In its first 25 years the Birding Classic has donated $1,071,000 in conservation funding to nature tourism and avian habitat restoration, enhancement, and acquisition projects throughout the state!
Number of grants awarded (and their amounts) are determined based on team registration fees (independent and sponsored) and corporate sponsorship dollars collected each year. The Birding Classic is a cost-recovery event, so once minimal event costs are covered all remaining funds go to conservation grants in Texas. Organizations are not required to register a team in the Birding Classic to be eligible to submit a project proposal.
All approved projects submitted by the May 1st deadline will be provided to winning Birding Classic teams to select which projects are funded by Conservation Grants.